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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2005-09-15

A Free Email Newsletter from Fred Langa
That Helps You Get More From Your Hardware, 
Software, and Time Online

Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!

1) Mo' Betta GPS

GPS hardware has undergone an almost unbelievably rapid evolution, adding more and more features into smaller and more power-efficient packages.

As of this writing, the Lowrance 11248 http://froogle.google.com/froogle?scoring=p&q=lowrance+ifinder+11248 may be the best value in basic GPS technology; it sells for around $65; about 30% less than last year's lowest-priced basic GPS unit. Although the Lowrance 11248 can't automatically plot turn-by-turn directions for you, it will show you where you are and what's nearby with an accuracy roughly equal to that of the Garmin GPS V, which cost $500--- over seven times as much--- just three years ago. The Lowrance unit is an incredible piece of technology at an amazingly low price.

At the other end of the spectrum there are units like the "StreetPilot 2720," http://www.google.com/search?q=StreetPilot+2720 which can integrate GPS data with local, real-time traffic and weather conditions broadcast over the FM Radio Data System's "Traffic Message Channel." Many radio broadcasters already use the Radio Data System ("RDS" http://www.rds.org.uk/rds98/whatisrds.htm ) to display text-based information such as station identification and the names of songs and artists currently being broadcast. Newer radios (especially in cars), can decode and display the RDS text. Similarly, the Traffic Message Channel ("TMC" http://www.tmcforum.com/en/about_tmc/what_is_tmc/what_is_tmc.htm ) is an application of RDS used for broadcasting real-time traffic and weather information that can be received silently and displayed by a TMC-equipped car radio or navigation system. A TMC-capable GPS, like the StreetPilot 2720, not only can show you how to get from point A to point B, but also can suggest alternate routes when it receives a TMC report of an obstacle ahead such as a delay from construction, accident, or bad weather.

Personally, I find a GPS from the middle ground better--- neither bare-bone minimal nor top-of-the-line. The choices there abound, including the unit I'm currently using: a device barely larger than a deck of cards, yet with a full-color, sunlight-readable screen, synthetic voice prompting (so the unit speaks directions to you), built-in rechargeable batteries good for 20 hours of operation, and more. It's incredible how far GPS tech has come, and how fast!

Hardware advances like this have happened a couple of times before, and they were momentous events: For example, it happened in the 1980s when computers went from being exotic toys to routine fixtures in businesses and homes: Now, almost everyone has a PC.

We saw it again in the 1990s, when cellphones went from being expensive executive accessories to an essential tool for everyday communication: Now, almost everyone has a cellphone.

We've seen it in other devices, too, and now we're seeing it with GPS: This once-exotic technology is now within the reach of almost everyone.

The basic benefits of GPS haven't changed: It helps you get where you want to be with a minimum of fuss and bother. But the new gear is so affordable and so powerful, you really shouldn't be without it. Just as PCs and cellphones did in earlier years, GPS has come of age. If you haven't added GPS to your arsenal of tech tools, it's time!

Full details:
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=170701704

Click on over!

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--- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList S.E. Free! ) ---

"Dear Fred, I received the first of your Plus Editions this Monday and I
was rapt. I have been a subscriber of the standard edition for many many
many years but never got the Plus edition [until now].... I have found
your newsletter to be an invaluable source of essential information that
has gently guided me through several changes in the PC world. Thanks Fred.
Kind regards, Cathryn Sanders"

Thanks, Cathryn. I tried to set the price low (only about $1/Mo!)
so that as many people as possible can get on board.

Why not take advantage of the MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
and at least take a look at the Plus edition? You can't lose!

Check out all the details:

http://langa.com/plus.htm

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2) Free Pix, Free SlideShow, Free Software

The article above on GPS technology (see #1), includes a reference to a web-based photo-journal of a recent GPS-guided trip I took to Atlantic Canada--- the trip is a real-life example of how GPS can make it easier to get around in unfamiliar (and even some very remote) areas.

One version of the photo journal--- available to all--- is at:
http://freetune.com/extras/newfoundland2005/newfoundland2005.htm

A much higher-resolution version is available to Plus! edition subscribers:
http://www.langalist.com/Plus/extras/newfoundland/newfoundland2005.asp

Of course, with both web-based versions above, you have to click through the pictures. To make it easier to view, I'm also offering an automated slideshow of the GPS-guided trip through Newfoundland, plus a free copy of the slideshow software that's yours to keep. After viewing my slideshow, you can use the software to play slideshows of your own digital photos, if you wish. The automated slideshow is available to Plus! readers in two versions--- lower- and higher-res--- to accommodate different download speeds. The private download area: http://www.langalist.com/Plus/extras/newfoundland/newfoundland05slides.asp (Not a Plus! subscriber? The above, plus dozens of other Plus!-only downloads are available after you join: http://langa.com/plus.htm )

Please read the GPS article (
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=170701704 ) so you'll have a context for understanding the trip, and then choose the extra content of your choice, as above--- web-based photo-journal, or automated slideshow.

Enjoy!

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3) More Buying Jitters

Fred, RE: "New-PC buyer's Jitters" ( http://langa.com/newsletters/2005/2005-08-15.htm#4 )

Thank you so much for all the info you have supplied over the years. I credit the fact that my Win98 400MH PII Micron PC purchased in 1998, despite daily heavy use by two users, has run perfectly and never crashed (really! -knock on wood), to our following your advice. I must also credit an exceptionally well engineered and built PC which came from the factory already setup with many of your recommended settings, excellent documentation, and the highest quality best name brand peripherals. My only repair has been twice replacing a case fan.

I have 'Jitters 2'. My problem differs from Mr. Hollis' in "New-PC buyer's Jitters." My PC is over 7 years old; lacks enough drive space, USB ports, and the OS and hardware don't support the latest products, such as USB 2.0, etc. I also would like to convert my audio and home videos to CD and DVD, requiring much more hard drive space, better speed and more equipment.

My main concern: the quality and configuration of a new PC. The old Micron came with all the bells and whistles, cost over $3000 when new (Phew!), but in hindsight, was an excellent quality choice. New PCs from any number of suppliers with up to 8 times the speed, 10+ times the storage, combo R/W drives, etc. can be had for about one-sixth that price.

 I'm retired now and my (lower) income keeps me from just running out to buy another "big buck" PC. Without a way to judge the quality of the many "no-name who knows who's" parts of the modern PC's, and motherboards that do everything except the dishes, making a wise purchase eludes me and the age of my old machine precludes many upgrades. Can you point me in the right direction on the minimum specs for a new machine that would accomplish what I want, for instance: Is a video card rather than video built into the motherboard really better? Should I really buy the fastest processor I can afford? Should "no-name brands" really to be suspect? Would a bare bones unit that I customize myself really be worth the trouble and cost?

I hope that sort of explains my "jitters", which have caused me to do nothing, rather than moving on and up, while I quietly pray that the Micron keeps on ticking (I religiously have followed your back-up advice). Your thoughts, please. Thanks again for your years of guidance. ---Don

I understand your dilemma, Don. I also bought Micron PCs for a number of replacement cycles in past years: they were (and are) good machines. But as time's gone on, and with the increasing commoditization of even complex PC parts (such as the motherboards themselves) there's less and less major, meaningful variance from one PC to the next. And there's really no need to spend anything like $3K for a new PC, unless you have very exacting requirements.

The "overclocking" crowd may disagree--- and with some limited justification--- because precision-matching of exotic components can wrest more from a given class of hardware than otherwise. That said, I believe that for routine, real life use, that kind of tweaking is mostly wasted effort: Squeezing out an extra percent or three of performance here or there isn't something you'll notice in most normal, everyday uses.

My current mainstream, daily-use system is a generic 3.2GHz "Systemax" I bought from Tigerdirect maybe 18 months ago. It's never given me any hardware trouble, and I've done a lot to the system--- changing the cooling fans, adding a ton of RAM, and so on--- all of which you've read about in this newsletter. <g> Not only was it a relatively cheap system to start with, but working on it means there's absolutely no mystery to it: Nothing has gone wrong, but if something did, I'd be able to fix it, using inexpensive replacement, commodity-type parts.

I expect to keep using this system until there's enough 64-bit software available to warrant a hardware upgrade; or until Intel or AMD comes out with a chip that's *significantly* faster.

So, if you're thinking that maybe it's time for a new PC, I'd suggest you start by taking a look at the smaller-brand systems first; explore putting your dollars into getting as fast a CPU as possible with as much RAM and hard drive as you can afford; rather than spending the money to buy a name brand on the faceplate. (Ancillary hardware, such as a RAM upgrade, is typically much, much cheaper with generic-type PCs than with name brands).

If you're going to keep the new system for a while, you might consider that the next version of Windows, "Vista," offloads a lot more of the visual processing to the video card (like what today's high-end games do) for better on-screen performance. So any system you buy today should either have a very good video system (maybe as much as 256MB or more of video RAM) OR have an inexpensive video card that will be easy to upgrade later, when you eventually move to Vista.

Once you have an idea of what hardware you want, look at both the prebuilt and assemble-it-yourself options for the kind of small-brand system you're interested in. (Assembling a PC is a lot less geeky than you probably think: Most PCs snap, plug, and screw together with minimal skill or effort needed--- that's one of the benefits of commodity-level hardware!)

With the prices for the prebuilt and assemble-it-yourself small-brand systems in hand, compare them to similarly-configured systems from the better-known brand names.

Be sure also to compare the warranties of all three variants. What after-sale support is available? Who fixes things that break? How long is the coverage? Etc. See what software comes with the systems, and whether it's stuff you really want and will use.

Some people will find the support options and "comfort level" of buying a name brand fully worthwhile. Other people may prefer the flexibility and money-savings possible by buying generic or assemble-it-yourself systems.

But you know, if you stay away from exotic, weird one-of-a-kind components and go with standard, popular, mainstream components, all three ways of buying a PC can work just fine. There's no absolute "right" or "wrong" way to do this--- it's up to you.

And that leads to the final tip: Once you call the shot, don't agonize over it. I know some people who tear their hair out in fits of buyer's remorse in the days and weeks after making a PC purchase--- they should have gotten a different CD burner, or keyboard, or waited a month, or chosen a different model, etc etc etc. You can drive yourself nuts, that way. <g> So, do your homework, call the shot as best you can, and then don't worry about it. There will *always* be other options that come along. Don't beat yourself up over them--- just enjoy your new PC, no matter what it is!

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4) PrintScreen Question

Fred: With my old Win98SE, I was happy with Print Screen. Now, with new computer using  pro XP, I cannot seem to use my floppy to install and activate. Is there a new Print Screen program that I can activate the Print Screen key on the keyboard so I can print whatever I currently have on the monitor screen! Thank you, Walter

First, for context, here's what's going on: In Win9x, software could interact with a PC's hardware pretty directly. While that made some tasks easier, it also led to instabilities: If a program reached "under" the operating system to mess directly with the hardware and then experienced some kind of problem, the OS might not be able to regain control of the hardware: the system would freeze or crash. This was one of the main sources of Win9x's reputation for instability--- almost any random piece of software could bring down the OS by knocking out or locking up some foundation piece of the system.

NT/Win2000/XP won't allow that: In that OS family, only the OS itself can talk directly to the hardware. Other software must tell the OS what it needs from the hardware, and the OS then acts as an intermediary to access the hardware on behalf of the running software. If a running program screws up, it usually affects only itself: the OS still has control of the hardware, so it (and any other apps) can keep running just fine. This is one of the main reasons why NT/Win2000/XP is much more crash-resistant than Win9x.

Your old PrintScreen tool probably wants to hook into the hardware at too deep a level; that's probably why XP won't let the software run.

But you already have a free alternative built into XP: Simply hit the PrintScreen key to copy an image of the current screen--- everything--- to the clipboard. You can then paste that image into any suitable tool--- WordPad, Paint, etc--- to edit and print the image from there. No third-party software is needed at all!

But if you want a one-step option, there's a ton of XP-specific PrintScreen software out there for you: http://www.google.com/search?q=printscreen+xp

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5) Simple Tools For Internet Control

In "Enable/Disable Internet Access On Demand" ( http://langa.com/newsletters/2005/2005-08-15.htm#2 ) we tried to point reader Mike Rogero in a useful direction. Shortly afterwards, he wrote this:

Hi Fred, A week or so ago I wrote asking if you knew of any software program where you could disable access to the internet only, using a password but still have access to all other programs on the computer.  The reason for this was to control internet access while not at home.  While searching the net for such a program, I found many but they included controlling access to files on the computer and many other controls but all I wanted was a simple program to disable/enable access to internet with a password.  I think I found such a program and wanted to share it with you: http://www.blumentals.net/inetprot/  I think there are many other Fathers and Mothers out there who would like to control their children's access to the internet when they are not at home with them and maybe this program will help out others as well.  Thanks. ---Mike Rogero

Thanks, Mike. That's a $20 item; there are many more, too; some free trials, some free forever:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=limit+control+internet+access+free

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6) Recommend This Newsletter And Win!

If you think the LangaList is a worthwhile read, maybe a friend would find it useful too! Just use the following link to recommend the LangaList---your friend may find a new source of useful information and you just may win one of three FREE ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTIONS to the LangaList Plus! edition given each month. (If your name is drawn and you're already a Plus! subscriber, your current subscription will be extended by a full year.)

Check out the details at http://langa.com/recommend.htm . Thanks for recommending the LangaList--- and good luck!

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7) More Hardware Testing Tricks

Hello Fred, Your suggestion for trying [possibly malfunctioning] devices on a 'known good' machine is a good one, but it isn't always easily possible...  If the problem is with an internal component, then it obviously cannot be moved. 

One trick I use is the 'Live CD's'.  Often the problem is a double assigned IRQ, or memory address, or as suggested, a driver problem..  If you boot from a CD, either the live Windows options (BartPE and UBCD4Win should both see USB) or Linux options.  I actually have better hardware recognition from the Linux distros... Usually.  But try a few.  If Bart doesn't see them, try Knoppix.  If Knoppix doesn't see it, try Mepis.  If that doesn't work, try Ubuntu...  They all have slightly different driver packages, some more up to date than others.  In some cases you may require an older driver, so also try an old version of Knoppix, Mepis, etc.  This can quickly (and for free) direct you towards the direction of failed hardware.  But before you
give up, do a good Google search for that specific hardware and the specific hardware..  If you read that others are having problems, then you may still have an issue.  But if you find that others have had their hardware found without any trouble, then you probably have a hardware failure of some sort.

I did have an issue with some older USB hardware, a 64M memory stick from Dell and a USB-IDE case for a laptop drive.  Both pre USB 2.0 devices that none of the Linux CD's could find.  But after some real digging, I did find older driver packages for both.  So then I knew I had drive or driver issues.  I zero'd both with Linux tools, then Windows saw them again.  I re-partitioned them and they've been working fine since.  I suspect they just got so corrupted that Windows didn't know what to do with them anymore. I am now very careful to only un-plug those devices when I am sure it is safe to do so :) -Roy Flint

Thanks, Roy. Of course, for this kind of troubleshooting to work, you need to have made your DOS/Windows/Linux/whatever bootable CDs *before* you run into trouble. Too many users wait until they have a problem, and then try to go looking for solutions; even though it may then be too late to use the malfunctioning PC to create diagnostic/repair tools. The time to assemble your repair tools is *before* you need them! <g>

http://www.google.com/search?as_q="live+cd"&as_sitesearch=langa.com
http://www.google.com/search?as_q="boot+cd"&as_sitesearch=langa.com

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8) Code-Load Success Story

Code-loaders Bob and Sherry write:

Would like to say thanks, Fred, to you and Langalist Not only do I pick up some great tips and programs from your newsletter, my site, T Bar T Miniature Horses, had triple the highest one day total of hits in the 3 year history of the site when you published that we had loaded the code. Keep up the good work! Bob and Sherry, http://www.tbart.net/

Do you have a home page or website? (It doesn't matter what size.) Please click over to http://langa.com/code.htm   and maybe you can join the thousands of LangaList readers who have "Loaded the Code!" (If you've already "Loaded The Code" and are wondering if your site will appear here or on the Langa.Com web site, please see http://langa.com/link.txt )

Speaking of which: Here's another eclectic sample of reader sites--- some professional, some very personal:

View A Randomly-Chosen Reader Site
http://langa.com/randomlink.htm

Manually Browse All Posted-to-Date Sites Starting At
http://langa.com/readersites.htm

Microsoft Windows Vista News Reviews and Discussion
http://www.windows-vista-site.com/

Dataware Technology Group, Ltd.
http://www.datawaretech.com/

spyware removal 101
http://www.1stopspywareremoval.com/

JoJo's Photo Gallery of scenery
http://www3.sympatico.ca/vujnovich/

Xtreme Soft Stuff
http://www.xtremesoftstuff.blogspot.com/

Slipping Past 50
http://www.slippingpast50.blogspot.com/

VVA-272 Greenville, NC
http://www.vva272nc.org/

Computer Jigsaw Puzzles On CD (redesign)
http://www.jbradley2002.com

Cheapshareware
http://tinyurl.com/abb7r

Word Tracker
http://word-tracker.blogspot.com/

Deadpan Zero
http://www.deadpanzero.com/pages/main.htm

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9) Free "Universal" Media Player?

Dear Fred, For a long time I have been looking for a media player that is not handicapped for lack of codecs and not overloaded with 'extra's' I do not use. Then I found MEDIA PLAYER CLASSIC. It looks like windows mplayer2 but it is not. It plays nearly everything. It does what Realplayer does, what Quicktime player does, what Windows Media Player does, it plays mp3, mp3 pro, ogg vorbis, video, dvd, etc. The only thing it does not play, till now, is .flac. That I do have to convert with dBpowerAMP Music Converter. And it is free. You can get it here: http://home.hccnet.nl/h.edskes/mirror.htm , in a package that is called K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 1.00 . Greetings, A.Zwaan

Thanks. This player came up once before, about a year ago, in http://www.langalist.com/plus/newsletters/2004/2004-11-08plus.asp , but that discussion was focused mainly on alternative Quicktime players. Turns out it's much more general than that!

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10) Just For Grins

Callie Jordan writes:

I found this mouse-click game. You shoot a tranquilizing dart if a sheep makes a dash from the flock, and they rate your reaction time. They suggest a cup of coffee if you aren't fast enough. Fortunately, they claim "no sheep were harmed in the making of this game":
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/reaction_version5.swf

Ack! My time was a very mediocre .211 seconds, although I got one in a zippy .12 seconds. Maybe I'm the one who's tranquillized! <g>

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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all ten items above, plus about 40% more content including: ...

• More On Drive Letter Weirdness
     (excellent reader tips on keeping drive letters OK)
• Command Line Info
     (every command that XP accepts...)
• Keystroke Automation
     (say goodbye to repetitive tasks)
• Free PCI Sniffers
     (excellent additions to your software toolbox)

The Plus! edition is only pennies per issue, and comes with a MONEY BACK
GUARANTEE from Fred. How can you lose? Check out the details: http://langa.com/plus.htm 

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(Give a gift subscription to the LangaList Plus edition!
Click <a href= " http://langa.com/plus_gift.htm ">here</a>)

The LangaList is published about 72 times a year, or about 6 times a month. See you next issue, 2005-09-26

Best,

Fred
( Editor@Langa.Com )

Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win a prize!)

An easier-to read formatted HTML version is available in the "Current Issue" section of http://langa.com.  (The HTML version of each issue normally is available by 9AM EST [UT-5] of the issue date.) All past LangaList issues are also available at the Langa.Com site.

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